power vs eco mode

It boils down to how much pressure you use on the go pedal to make the Prius accelerate. In Power mode a little pressure is all it takes for the car to zoom off, whereas in eco mode it takes a lot more pressure for the same.

 

Expect the MPG to be about 10 to 15% less than a traditional Prius IMO.

44 City 40 Highway as per Google Search

 

I like the feel of the pedal in ECO mode. If I need to accelerate fast getting onto the expressway I just push more. I've floored it twice just to see how fast it will accelerate, but that is very rarely needed. I usually accelerate into the PWR range and still get great mileage. I don't like blocking traffic with a very slow acceleration.

 

Eco mode de-tunes the A/C, here in MS I use 'normal' mode on summer afternoons and Eco the rest of the year.

 

Ooops, forgot about the A/C. You will find that when you are ECO mode, the A/C will not blow as cold on those real hot days as it would in "Regular Mode" or "Power Mode". FWIW, "Regular" mode is "all buttons off".

 

The A/C pump output will vary as needed in ECO mode. I've seen the A/C HP from 0.6 to 2.2. Here are some pictures of different A/C output.

 

Eco vs. Power remaps the travel distance of the accelerator pedal to throttle response.
It's not really any difference in pedal "pressure".

 

figure 40in eco and 36-38 in power.

 

I drive in ECO mode except when pulling out across several lanes of traffic. Then I shift into PWR in advance and, once headed fair, shift back to ECO. I probably do that once a month and can think of only one spot in town I do it.

 

FWIW, ECO mode effects all HVAC operations, not just A/C. Lowers blower speeds, etc. And for reasons that escape me, it also locks out bi-vent mode so you either have floor for heat or vents for cooling but no bi-vent.

 

I think a careful, mpg conscious driver would get more-or-less the same mpg in either ECO, normal or PWR. My personal preference is normal, ie: both buttons off.

 

Outside of climate control and cruise control tweaks (which do alter MPG), the ECO vs Normal vs PWR difference is almost entirely a user interface change in interpreting gas pedal position, not a real change to the power train. A driver with superhuman dexterity, response time, and patience should get the same MPG in all three modes.

Real world drivers are not superhuman, but come with different mixtures of abilities and imperfections. 'Best' is entirely a matter of personal preference. More drivers will do best in ECO than in any other mode. But smaller numbers will do best in another mode, and some will truly see no difference among modes.

 

Not sure about PWR, but comparing ECO and normal, it's still very easy to modulate the gas pedal. If anything it's easier in normal: ECO requires exaggerated motion that I found harder to do.

 

I use ECO mode in town where you can't go anywhere anyway. It does cut the AC and fan down, and uses EV mode more quickly. But out on the road, the additional pressure annoys my bad knee. I can modulate very well in normal.

 

What is that APP you're using on the iPad HPS?